Best Way to Go About Earning CDA Online?

[Guest]

Hello, I am new to this forum. I am a supervisor at a licensed center. I am interested in earning my CDA, and would like to hear from anyone who has theirs about the best way to go. Online classes are really my only option, as I work full time during the week and have 3 children of my own, 6 and under. I would like to find an accredited online school offering an all-inclusive CDA course, the paperwork from Washington etc. The experience hours will be no issue, as I have worked at a center for 5 years. I briefly looked into Penn Foster, but am skeptical.

Any assistance, tips, experience would be great.

[Michael]

Welcome to the forum. Here are a couple threads that realte to CDA online.

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=cda+-+online

[NoMoreJuice!]

I'm actually almost finished with my program from Penn Foster. I'm very happily surprised! I have learned a lot of great info, and the community feature allows me to chat with hundreds of other students and all my instructors. They have weekly free webinars that have such useful info, like managing toddler attitudes, setting up a successful classroom, and of course 1-6 of the components of the CDA. I chose to do it through PF because it articulates directly to their associates degree program, and if I did my AA through them, they would count the CDA as internship hours.

[Guest]

Thank you for your information. Will you have more to do after your PF classes are complete in order to get your CDA?

[Blackcat31]

Make sure you contact your state licensing agency (or your state college if you plan on transferring credits) accepts Penn Foster as an accredited facility/institution.

My SIL took a ton of course through them and after a year of working hard and earning the credits, she found out that the college she was planning to transfer to does not accept or honor Penn Foster credits.

I did a little research online and found that it's a common issue.


My local community college offers a CDA course completely online. Check your local Child Care Resource and Referral and see if they offer anything too as our local CCR&R does that as well. They would also have info for scholarships to earn your CDA too.

[Guest]

I wish my local CC offered online classes, but unfortunately they only offer physical classes during my working hours, so I am unable to go that route. I also looked into Care Courses, which is completely online and will meet the CDA training requirements, but does offer college credits.

There is a local agency that offers scholarships for CDA training, although only for college credit, so I would be unable to apply for these scholarships if I go through Care Courses.

I will look into whether or not any colleges I may eventually transfer to accept Penn Foster credits. The reviews I found online for PF were less than positive, but Care Courses seems to be satisfactory.

Hopefully I am able to find a way to obtain my CDA without much trouble!

[Blackcat31]

I wish my local CC offered online classes, but unfortunately they only offer physical classes during my working hours, so I am unable to go that route. I also looked into Care Courses, which is completely online and will meet the CDA training requirements, but does offer college credits.

There is a local agency that offers scholarships for CDA training, although only for college credit, so I would be unable to apply for these scholarships if I go through Care Courses.

I will look into whether or not any colleges I may eventually transfer to accept Penn Foster credits. The reviews I found online for PF were less than positive, but Care Courses seems to be satisfactory.

Hopefully I am able to find a way to obtain my CDA without much trouble!

Have you checked this site out? It has online options for CDA

http://enrollment.cdatraining.org/nebraska/